Arm's Reach co-sleeper vs. sidecar?

[worldwideweber]

hi - i've been thinking that we'll get an arm's reach co-sleeper. somebody just mentioned to me do a "sidecar" with a crib. can anyone tell me which they think is better and why? if you sidecar, what brand crib do you have?

just trying to figure out best options. i guess i was leaning towards the co-sleeper since it attaches to the bed. this is the first i've heard about sidecars and would love to learn more.

thanks!

[Daisie125]

We went with the crib. Mainly because we got it for free from a friend, and a co-sleeper we would have had to buy.

It's set up, but no baby yet. I like it, though, it looks like it will give us alot more room.

[josh&davesmomme]

I love our side car...here's our side car page (http://groups.msn.com/SteveandLishsFamily/sidecarcrib.msnw)that has photos and the how to's ( we have it attached to the bed)- IMO it's much better than a cosleeper as baby won't really out grow this like a cosleeper, i use it for my 5 mo old but occasionally my 4 yr old still climbs in there to lie down. And is very convenient for nursing lying down- i don't think you can do it in a cosleeper.

[ma_Donna]

We use a co-sleeper at home and a sidecar crib at the IL's.

There is a picture of Noah in the link in the signature, 'sweet boy' album, he's close to outgrowing it lengthwise, but now sleeps diagonally, curled up, migrates next to me, etc.

We modified it by adding 4" of open cell foam from the fabric store. A regular crib sheet fits over the whole thing... but a little loosely. A Graco PNP sheet fits on the 'mattress' that comes with the co-sleeper. With the foam, he is at the same height as our bed.

Co-sleeper cons:
*Must be modified to have same mattress height
*The darned bar! I lean in to nurse and even padded, the edge is hard... but I've been doing it for 2.5 years and will continue with a new baby this summer. Don't know if I'm just stubborn or if it's really not that bad :D
*Not as 'long', but still just fits our average sized toddler

Sidecar cons:
*The 'walls' are higher and less attractive
*You have to have a good space filler for the far side of the mattress
*More difficult to 'tie' to the bed for a snug fit

I've only done one sidecar arrangement and don't know if there are issues with different beds & cribs, but the one at the IL's on the lowest level matches the bed height perfectly.

I'd say that if you can get a crib fairly cheaply (since they're easier to come by) and don't mind it, well, looking like a crib because of the taller sides, go for the crib. I think it will be more comfortable in the long run.

HTH :wave

[swebster]

I think that the tall sides of the crib are an advantage...Bea is now 8 months old and cruising like mad. It's nice to be able to have her with us in bed in the morning when we're not quite ready to get up...she can hang out in the sidecar, pull herself up on the three sides of the crib, bounce, sing, chortle and entertain herself quite nicely while we doze or read.

The co-sleeper website says that you should discontinue use after baby gets mobile...I can understand having a toddler in it, but how did you manage with your son when he was 4 months to a year? I know that as soon as Bea started rolling and pulling herself up she would have taken a header right out of it since the sides are so short. Just curious.:)

[Lovinmy2babies+1]

We have an arm's reach mini co-sleeper. It works well for us.

[lara1828]

I liked the cosleeper, but it is really only good for about 4 or 5 months. A big advantage for us was that it was portable - we were traveling back and forth to my PIL lake cabin when ds was little.

This time around, I think I'll keep my crib side-carred and use the cosleeper (side-bar up) as a bassinet in the living room.

[goodcents]

The co-sleeper stinks. You can search my post for a very long thread about why they really don't work well.